snapshot: violent crime per 10,000
By Matt Carroll, Globe Staff | Feb. 27, 2014
The FBI releases data on crime annually. Cities dominated the top of the list, as measured by crimes per 10,000 residents. The most violent communities in Massachusetts included Chelsea, Brockton, New Bedford, Fall River and Springfield. The data is for 2012.
| Community | Violent crime per 10,000 | Rank | Total violent crimes | Population |
| ABINGTON | 25.3 | 82 | 41 | 16,215 |
| ACTON | 10.3 | 182 | 23 | 22,349 |
| ACUSHNET | 12.5 | 161 | 13 | 10,408 |
| ADAMS | 48.2 | 25 | 41 | 8,508 |
| AGAWAM | 11.8 | 170 | 34 | 28,708 |
| ALFORD | NA | NA | NA | |
| AMESBURY | 26.6 | 76 | 44 | 16,557 |
| AMHERST | 20.7 | 105 | 79 | 38,112 |
| ANDOVER | 6.8 | 209 | 23 | 33,753 |
| AQUINNAH | NA | NA | NA | |
| ARLINGTON | 11.7 | 171 | 51 | 43,675 |
| ASHBURNHAM | 16.2 | 126 | 10 | 6,155 |
| ASHBY | 6.4 | 213 | 2 | 3,134 |
| ASHFIELD | 5.7 | 220 | 1 | 1,757 |
| ASHLAND | 8.3 | 196 | 14 | 16,916 |
| ATHOL | 39.2 | 40 | 46 | 11,727 |
| ATTLEBORO | 32.2 | 60 | 142 | 44,033 |
| AUBURN | 29.3 | 69 | 48 | 16,389 |
| AVON | 20.3 | 107 | 9 | 4,427 |
| AYER | 37 | 47 | 28 | 7,568 |
| BARNSTABLE | 62.1 | 19 | 283 | 45,570 |
| BARRE | 23.8 | 90 | 13 | 5,464 |
| BECKET | NA | NA | NA | |
| BEDFORD | 5.2 | 226 | 7 | 13,575 |
| BELCHERTOWN | 12.9 | 157 | 19 | 14,751 |
| BELLINGHAM | NA | NA | NA | |
| BELMONT | 7.5 | 203 | 19 | 25,209 |
| BERKLEY | 10.8 | 180 | 7 | 6,475 |
| BERLIN | 3.4 | 242 | 1 | 2,903 |
| BERNARDSTON | 18.6 | 114 | 4 | 2,154 |
| BEVERLY | 20.7 | 105 | 83 | 40,150 |
| BILLERICA | 13.7 | 145 | 56 | 41,016 |
| BLACKSTONE | 16.4 | 125 | 15 | 9,138 |
| BLANDFORD | 0 | 260 | 0 | 1,245 |
| BOLTON | 20.2 | 108 | 10 | 4,959 |
| BOSTON | 83.5 | 10 | 5266 | 630,648 |
| BOURNE | 38.2 | 44 | 76 | 19,921 |
| BOXBOROUGH | 2 | 252 | 1 | 5,094 |
| BOXFORD | 0 | 260 | 0 | 8,099 |
| BOYLSTON | NA | NA | NA | |
| BRAINTREE | 8.3 | 196 | 30 | 36,310 |
| BREWSTER | 15.1 | 137 | 15 | 9,902 |
| BRIDGEWATER | NA | NA | NA | |
| BRIMFIELD | 16.5 | 124 | 6 | 3,643 |
| BROCKTON | 114.3 | 2 | 1088 | 95,156 |
| BROOKFIELD | NA | NA | NA | |
| BROOKLINE | 13.7 | 145 | 82 | 59,658 |
| BUCKLAND | NA | NA | NA | |
| BURLINGTON | 15.6 | 132 | 39 | 24,975 |
| CAMBRIDGE | 40.3 | 37 | 431 | 106,981 |
| CANTON | 16 | 129 | 35 | 21,903 |
| CARLISLE | NA | NA | NA | |
| CARVER | 23.1 | 96 | 27 | 11,676 |
| CHARLEMONT | NA | NA | NA | |
| CHARLTON | 14.5 | 140 | 19 | 13,142 |
| CHATHAM | 29.1 | 71 | 18 | 6,176 |
| CHELMSFORD | 7.3 | 204 | 25 | 34,460 |
| CHELSEA | 185.2 | 1 | 666 | 35,966 |
| CHESHIRE | 3.1 | 245 | 1 | 3,245 |
| CHESTER | NA | NA | NA | |
| CHESTERFIELD | 0 | 260 | 0 | 1,230 |
| CHICOPEE | 46.2 | 27 | 258 | 55,825 |
| CHILMARK | NA | NA | NA | |
| CLARKSBURG | NA | NA | NA | |
| CLINTON | 6.5 | 211 | 9 | 13,774 |
| COHASSET | NA | NA | NA | |
| COLRAIN | NA | NA | NA | |
| Community | Violent crime per 10,000 | Rank | Total violent crimes | Population |
| CONCORD | 7.2 | 205 | 13 | 17,995 |
| CONWAY | NA | NA | NA | |
| CUMMINGTON | NA | NA | NA | |
| DALTON | 31 | 62 | 21 | 6,774 |
| DANVERS | 21.5 | 103 | 58 | 26,934 |
| DARTMOUTH | 21.2 | 104 | 73 | 34,368 |
| DEDHAM | 7.6 | 201 | 19 | 25,116 |
| DEERFIELD | 15.4 | 134 | 8 | 5,186 |
| DENNIS | 34.2 | 51 | 49 | 14,325 |
| DIGHTON | 14 | 142 | 10 | 7,157 |
| DOUGLAS | 12.8 | 158 | 11 | 8,576 |
| DOVER | 5.3 | 224 | 3 | 5,677 |
| DRACUT | 4.7 | 232 | 14 | 30,032 |
| DUDLEY | 33.8 | 53 | 39 | 11,528 |
| DUNSTABLE | NA | NA | NA | |
| DUXBURY | 2 | 252 | 3 | 15,276 |
| EAST BRIDGEWATER | 17.2 | 122 | 24 | 13,989 |
| EAST BROOKFIELD | 13.6 | 147 | 3 | 2,209 |
| EASTHAM | 16 | 129 | 8 | 4,997 |
| EASTHAMPTON | 21.7 | 101 | 35 | 16,166 |
| EAST LONGMEADOW | 15.8 | 131 | 25 | 15,871 |
| EASTON | 13.3 | 152 | 31 | 23,342 |
| EDGARTOWN | NA | NA | NA | |
| EGREMONT | 24.4 | 89 | 3 | 1,229 |
| ERVING | 60.4 | 21 | 11 | 1,822 |
| ESSEX | 0 | 260 | 0 | 3,562 |
| EVERETT | 40 | 38 | 170 | 42,476 |
| FAIRHAVEN | 31.2 | 61 | 50 | 16,033 |
| FALL RIVER | 106.3 | 4 | 954 | 89,753 |
| FALMOUTH | 40.6 | 36 | 129 | 31,794 |
| FITCHBURG | 78.2 | 12 | 319 | 40,809 |
| FLORIDA | NA | NA | NA | |
| FOXBOROUGH | NA | NA | NA | |
| FRAMINGHAM | 22.1 | 99 | 154 | 69,605 |
| FRANKLIN | 3.4 | 242 | 11 | 32,134 |
| FREETOWN | 13.4 | 150 | 12 | 8,960 |
| GARDNER | 43 | 30 | 88 | 20,474 |
| GEORGETOWN | NA | NA | NA | |
| GILL | 0 | 260 | 0 | 1,518 |
| GLOUCESTER | 9.2 | 191 | 27 | 29,272 |
| GOSHEN | 0 | 260 | 0 | 1,062 |
| GOSNOLD | NA | NA | NA | |
| GRAFTON | 12.2 | 165 | 22 | 17,986 |
| GRANBY | 11.1 | 176 | 7 | 6,282 |
| GRANVILLE | 0 | 260 | 0 | 1,581 |
| GREAT BARRINGTON | NA | NA | NA | |
| GREENFIELD | 65.1 | 18 | 115 | 17,667 |
| GROTON | 6.5 | 211 | 7 | 10,851 |
| GROVELAND | 3 | 247 | 2 | 6,567 |
| HADLEY | 26.5 | 77 | 14 | 5,288 |
| HALIFAX | 24.9 | 84 | 19 | 7,627 |
| HAMILTON | 6.3 | 214 | 5 | 7,896 |
| HAMPDEN | 9.6 | 187 | 5 | 5,188 |
| HANCOCK | NA | NA | NA | |
| HANOVER | 2.1 | 251 | 3 | 14,078 |
| HANSON | 28 | 74 | 29 | 10,357 |
| HARDWICK | 36.3 | 48 | 11 | 3,027 |
| HARVARD | 4.5 | 235 | 3 | 6,595 |
| HARWICH | 22.7 | 98 | 28 | 12,345 |
| HATFIELD | NA | NA | NA | |
| HAVERHILL | 67.5 | 15 | 418 | 61,897 |
| HAWLEY | NA | NA | NA | |
| HEATH | NA | NA | NA | |
| HINGHAM | 7.6 | 201 | 17 | 22,475 |
| HINSDALE | NA | NA | NA | |
| HOLBROOK | 38.3 | 41 | 42 | 10,963 |
| HOLDEN | 4.6 | 234 | 8 | 17,562 |
| HOLLAND | NA | NA | NA | |
| HOLLISTON | 5.8 | 219 | 8 | 13,811 |
| HOLYOKE | 94.9 | 8 | 382 | 40,260 |
| HOPEDALE | 28.4 | 73 | 17 | 5,985 |
| HOPKINTON | 1.3 | 255 | 2 | 15,214 |
| HUBBARDSTON | 24.8 | 85 | 11 | 4,436 |
| HUDSON | 4.1 | 238 | 8 | 19,435 |
| HULL | 32.6 | 57 | 34 | 10,441 |
| HUNTINGTON | NA | NA | NA | |
| IPSWICH | 3.7 | 241 | 5 | 13,397 |
| KINGSTON | 13.3 | 152 | 17 | 12,809 |
| LAKEVILLE | 11.2 | 174 | 12 | 10,754 |
| LANCASTER | 11 | 177 | 9 | 8,148 |
| LANESBOROUGH | NA | NA | NA | |
| LAWRENCE | 101.1 | 6 | 785 | 77,661 |
| LEE | 25.2 | 83 | 15 | 5,960 |
| LEICESTER | 16.2 | 126 | 18 | 11,106 |
| LENOX | 9.9 | 184 | 5 | 5,039 |
| LEOMINSTER | 65.7 | 17 | 271 | 41,262 |
| LEVERETT | NA | NA | NA | |
| LEXINGTON | 4.1 | 238 | 13 | 32,000 |
| LEYDEN | NA | NA | NA | |
| LINCOLN | 12.3 | 163 | 8 | 6,487 |
| LITTLETON | 12.1 | 166 | 11 | 9,097 |
| LONGMEADOW | 6.9 | 208 | 11 | 15,936 |
| LOWELL | 53.9 | 23 | 585 | 108,539 |
| LUDLOW | 13.1 | 155 | 28 | 21,304 |
| LUNENBURG | 26.4 | 78 | 27 | 10,212 |
| LYNN | 82.1 | 11 | 754 | 91,846 |
| LYNNFIELD | 5.9 | 218 | 7 | 11,791 |
| MALDEN | 46.2 | 27 | 280 | 60,605 |
| MANCHESTER-BY-THE-SEA | 7.7 | 199 | 4 | 5,222 |
| MANSFIELD | NA | NA | NA | |
| MARBLEHEAD | 13.4 | 150 | 27 | 20,142 |
| MARION | 12.1 | 166 | 6 | 4,976 |
| MARLBOROUGH | 29.8 | 67 | 117 | 39,241 |
| MARSHFIELD | 14.9 | 138 | 38 | 25,496 |
| MASHPEE | 33.3 | 55 | 47 | 14,123 |
| MATTAPOISETT | 11.4 | 172 | 7 | 6,133 |
| MAYNARD | 23.3 | 94 | 24 | 10,303 |
| MEDFIELD | 13.1 | 155 | 16 | 12,216 |
| MEDFORD | NA | NA | NA | |
| MEDWAY | 9.3 | 190 | 12 | 12,956 |
| MELROSE | 13.8 | 144 | 38 | 27,506 |
| MENDON | 8.5 | 193 | 5 | 5,913 |
| MERRIMAC | 10.9 | 179 | 7 | 6,446 |
| METHUEN | 16.2 | 126 | 78 | 48,051 |
| MIDDLEBOROUGH | NA | NA | NA | |
| MIDDLEFIELD | NA | NA | NA | |
| MIDDLETON | 15.3 | 136 | 14 | 9,130 |
| MILFORD | 27.9 | 75 | 79 | 28,346 |
| MILLBURY | 29.8 | 67 | 40 | 13,425 |
| MILLIS | NA | NA | NA | |
| MILLVILLE | 3.1 | 245 | 1 | 3,228 |
| MILTON | 10.2 | 183 | 28 | 27,424 |
| MONROE | NA | NA | NA | |
| MONSON | 23.1 | 96 | 20 | 8,641 |
| MONTAGUE | 44.5 | 29 | 38 | 8,540 |
| MONTEREY | 41.5 | 34 | 4 | 965 |
| MONTGOMERY | NA | NA | NA | |
| MOUNT WASHINGTON | NA | NA | NA | |
| NAHANT | 17.3 | 120 | 6 | 3,467 |
| NANTUCKET | 14.7 | 139 | 15 | 10,232 |
| NATICK | 18.1 | 117 | 61 | 33,646 |
| NEEDHAM | 0.7 | 258 | 2 | 29,342 |
| NEW ASHFORD | NA | NA | NA | |
| NEW BEDFORD | 107.3 | 3 | 1030 | 96,031 |
| NEW BRAINTREE | NA | NA | NA | |
| NEWBURY | NA | NA | NA | |
| NEWBURYPORT | 11.9 | 168 | 21 | 17,708 |
| NEW MARLBOROUGH | NA | NA | NA | |
| NEW SALEM | NA | NA | NA | |
| NEWTON | 8.8 | 192 | 76 | 86,710 |
| NORFOLK | 0.9 | 256 | 1 | 11,390 |
| NORTH ADAMS | 70.5 | 13 | 97 | 13,753 |
| NORTHAMPTON | 40 | 38 | 115 | 28,755 |
| NORTH ANDOVER | NA | NA | NA | |
| NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH | NA | NA | NA | |
| NORTHBOROUGH | 11.2 | 174 | 16 | 14,329 |
| NORTHBRIDGE | 20.1 | 109 | 32 | 15,901 |
| NORTH BROOKFIELD | 33.8 | 53 | 16 | 4,737 |
| NORTHFIELD | 3.3 | 244 | 1 | 3,069 |
| NORTH READING | 9.9 | 184 | 15 | 15,182 |
| NORTON | 4.7 | 232 | 9 | 19,222 |
| NORWELL | 8.4 | 194 | 9 | 10,656 |
| NORWOOD | 9.6 | 187 | 28 | 29,057 |
| OAK BLUFFS | 30.2 | 66 | 14 | 4,631 |
| OAKHAM | 5.2 | 226 | 1 | 1,926 |
| ORANGE | NA | NA | NA | |
| ORLEANS | 28.6 | 72 | 17 | 5,939 |
| OTIS | NA | NA | NA | |
| OXFORD | 33.9 | 52 | 47 | 13,880 |
| PALMER | 38.3 | 41 | 47 | 12,257 |
| PAXTON | 6.2 | 215 | 3 | 4,864 |
| PEABODY | 23.2 | 95 | 121 | 52,113 |
| PELHAM | 0 | 260 | 0 | 1,329 |
| PEMBROKE | NA | NA | NA | |
| PEPPERELL | 15.4 | 134 | 18 | 11,719 |
| PERU | NA | NA | NA | |
| PETERSHAM | NA | NA | NA | |
| PHILLIPSTON | NA | NA | NA | |
| PITTSFIELD | 42.6 | 33 | 191 | 44,868 |
| PLAINFIELD | NA | NA | NA | |
| PLAINVILLE | 9.5 | 189 | 8 | 8,396 |
| PLYMOUTH | NA | NA | NA | |
| PLYMPTON | 7 | 207 | 2 | 2,862 |
| PRINCETON | 2.9 | 250 | 1 | 3,454 |
| PROVINCETOWN | 91 | 9 | 27 | 2,966 |
| QUINCY | 42.8 | 31 | 401 | 93,736 |
| RANDOLPH | 38.3 | 41 | 125 | 32,624 |
| RAYNHAM | 14.1 | 141 | 19 | 13,518 |
| READING | 4 | 240 | 10 | 25,223 |
| REHOBOTH | 11.9 | 168 | 14 | 11,724 |
| REVERE | 50.8 | 24 | 269 | 52,926 |
| RICHMOND | NA | NA | NA | |
| ROCHESTER | 11.3 | 173 | 6 | 5,308 |
| ROCKLAND | NA | NA | NA | |
| ROCKPORT | 4.2 | 236 | 3 | 7,068 |
| ROWE | NA | NA | NA | |
| ROWLEY | 6.7 | 210 | 4 | 5,955 |
| ROYALSTON | NA | NA | NA | |
| RUSSELL | NA | NA | NA | |
| RUTLAND | 23.5 | 93 | 19 | 8,073 |
| SALEM | 37.8 | 45 | 159 | 42,025 |
| SALISBURY | 42.7 | 32 | 36 | 8,422 |
| SANDISFIELD | NA | NA | NA | |
| SANDWICH | 18.7 | 113 | 39 | 20,848 |
| SAUGUS | 31 | 62 | 84 | 27,075 |
| SAVOY | NA | NA | NA | |
| SCITUATE | 12.5 | 161 | 23 | 18,395 |
| SEEKONK | 24.5 | 87 | 34 | 13,862 |
| SHARON | 8.4 | 194 | 15 | 17,892 |
| SHEFFIELD | NA | NA | NA | |
| SHELBURNE | 5.2 | 226 | 1 | 1,915 |
| SHERBORN | 4.8 | 231 | 2 | 4,199 |
| SHIRLEY | 24.5 | 87 | 18 | 7,337 |
| SHREWSBURY | 1.7 | 254 | 6 | 36,048 |
| SHUTESBURY | NA | NA | NA | |
| SOMERSET | 19.1 | 112 | 35 | 18,349 |
| SOMERVILLE | 34.8 | 49 | 269 | 77,200 |
| SOUTHAMPTON | 5.1 | 229 | 3 | 5,832 |
| SOUTHBOROUGH | 3 | 247 | 3 | 9,887 |
| SOUTHBRIDGE | 37.2 | 46 | 63 | 16,924 |
| SOUTH HADLEY | 23.8 | 90 | 42 | 17,642 |
| SOUTHWICK | 15.6 | 132 | 15 | 9,594 |
| SPENCER | 19.4 | 111 | 23 | 11,832 |
| SPRINGFIELD | 103.9 | 5 | 1606 | 154,518 |
| STERLING | 17.7 | 118 | 14 | 7,904 |
| STOCKBRIDGE | 30.7 | 65 | 6 | 1,953 |
| STONEHAM | 13.3 | 152 | 29 | 21,852 |
| STOUGHTON | 32.5 | 59 | 89 | 27,392 |
| STOW | 3 | 247 | 2 | 6,717 |
| STURBRIDGE | 30.9 | 64 | 29 | 9,383 |
| SUDBURY | 0.6 | 259 | 1 | 18,002 |
| SUNDERLAND | NA | NA | NA | |
| SUTTON | 11 | 177 | 10 | 9,075 |
| SWAMPSCOTT | NA | NA | NA | |
| SWANSEA | 26.2 | 80 | 42 | 16,025 |
| TAUNTON | 47.5 | 26 | 268 | 56,438 |
| TEMPLETON | 13.6 | 147 | 11 | 8,111 |
| TEWKSBURY | 33.2 | 56 | 98 | 29,518 |
| TISBURY | 17.3 | 120 | 7 | 4,040 |
| TOLLAND | NA | NA | NA | |
| TOPSFIELD | NA | NA | NA | |
| TOWNSEND | NA | NA | NA | |
| TRURO | 19.8 | 110 | 4 | 2,020 |
| TYNGSBOROUGH | NA | NA | NA | |
| TYRINGHAM | NA | NA | NA | |
| UPTON | 10.5 | 181 | 8 | 7,636 |
| UXBRIDGE | 13.9 | 143 | 19 | 13,623 |
| WAKEFIELD | 26.4 | 78 | 67 | 25,415 |
| WALES | 5.4 | 222 | 1 | 1,855 |
| WALPOLE | 5.3 | 224 | 13 | 24,450 |
| WALTHAM | 23.7 | 92 | 146 | 61,725 |
| WARE | 41.2 | 35 | 41 | 9,942 |
| WAREHAM | 68.7 | 14 | 152 | 22,136 |
| WARREN | NA | NA | NA | |
| WARWICK | NA | NA | NA | |
| WASHINGTON | NA | NA | NA | |
| WATERTOWN | 17.2 | 122 | 56 | 32,535 |
| WAYLAND | 6 | 217 | 8 | 13,248 |
| WEBSTER | 66 | 16 | 112 | 16,974 |
| WELLESLEY | 4.2 | 236 | 12 | 28,402 |
| WELLFLEET | 21.6 | 102 | 6 | 2,772 |
| WENDELL | NA | NA | NA | |
| WENHAM | 6.1 | 216 | 3 | 4,948 |
| WESTBOROUGH | 9.7 | 186 | 18 | 18,496 |
| WEST BOYLSTON | 7.7 | 199 | 6 | 7,759 |
| WEST BRIDGEWATER | 12.8 | 158 | 9 | 7,016 |
| WEST BROOKFIELD | NA | NA | NA | |
| WESTFIELD | 18.3 | 115 | 76 | 41,485 |
| WESTFORD | 4.9 | 230 | 11 | 22,378 |
| WESTHAMPTON | NA | NA | NA | |
| WESTMINSTER | 13.6 | 147 | 10 | 7,367 |
| WEST NEWBURY | 25.5 | 81 | 11 | 4,306 |
| WESTON | 0.9 | 256 | 1 | 11,472 |
| WESTPORT | 12.7 | 160 | 20 | 15,688 |
| WEST SPRINGFIELD | 54.4 | 22 | 156 | 28,663 |
| WEST STOCKBRIDGE | NA | NA | NA | |
| WEST TISBURY | 7.1 | 206 | 2 | 2,803 |
| WESTWOOD | 18.2 | 116 | 27 | 14,852 |
| WEYMOUTH | 34.4 | 50 | 188 | 54,597 |
| WHATELY | 0 | 260 | 0 | 1,514 |
| WHITMAN | 29.3 | 69 | 43 | 14,699 |
| WILBRAHAM | 17.4 | 119 | 25 | 14,356 |
| WILLIAMSBURG | 8 | 198 | 2 | 2,499 |
| WILLIAMSTOWN | NA | NA | NA | |
| WILMINGTON | 12.3 | 163 | 28 | 22,758 |
| WINCHENDON | 32.6 | 57 | 34 | 10,427 |
| WINCHESTER | 5.5 | 221 | 12 | 21,786 |
| WINDSOR | NA | NA | NA | |
| WINTHROP | 21.8 | 100 | 39 | 17,895 |
| WOBURN | 24.7 | 86 | 96 | 38,863 |
| WORCESTER | 95.9 | 7 | 1758 | 183,247 |
| WORTHINGTON | NA | NA | NA | |
| WRENTHAM | 5.4 | 222 | 6 | 11,125 |
| YARMOUTH | 61.3 | 20 | 147 | 23,991 |